Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Genetics, Not Upbringing, Main Influencer in Child Education

           The debate has been around for ages. If a child is smarter than his or her peers, are they naturally talented academically? Or are their habits embedded in them via their upbringing conducive to working hard and constantly hitting the textbooks? New research published in the scientific journal Intelligence concludes that early adolescent experiences promoted by parents can not directly influence intelligence, at least not past their genetic contribution to their child.


           This study implies that if a child is advanced beyond his or her years, genetic factors play a key role in their intelligence. To provide credence for this conclusion, professors at Florida State University, the University of Nebraska, West Illinois University, King Abdulaziz in Saudi Arabia, and Erasmus University in the Netherlands used a research protocol with adoption based variability.
These researchers administered a Picture Vocabulary Test (PVT) to middle and high school students. This test was then given to the same individuals when they reached the ages of 18 and 26. The PVT served as a form of an IQ test for these people, and the results were juxtaposed in comparison to each age they took the test. The research found no significant difference between the IQ's of adopted and non-adopted children. "The way you parent a child is not going to have a detectable effect on their IQ as long as that parenting is within normal bounds." says Kevin Beaver, a criminology professor at FSU.

Main Article: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/10/30/genetics-not-upbringing-main-influencer-in-childs-iq-study-says/

More Information: http://www.livestrong.com/article/254240-what-is-a-high-iq-for-a-child/

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